Want to learn more about genealogy, or just more about our families?

Below are some resources for information that I have found helpful and some ideas on how you can help me further the knowledge of our family.

Helpful Tools

Ancestry.com

This is the biggest name out there when it comes to family history, and for good reason. It is a business, and requires paid subscriptions. Some libraries offer direct access for research without you having to pay for a personal account plan. I first used the stand-alone software Family Tree Maker before it moved all online. This is the home for my main family tree and I am happy to share that with you on request, Changes in the way they handle tree sharing have made it hard for me to use a single web link.

A ntenati

Online Italian records are available at this site, and many of the original records I reviewed on microfilms for Santo Stefano families are available here. The site’s main language is Italian, but English menus are available even if they are a little challenging. If you are interesting in jumping into this kind of research I would recommend some book reading on research first- unless your Italian is very good! There are some good references on how to use this site available, including this guide.

How you can help

Despite all that I have learned, I feel like I am missing much more than what I have found. Records of our families after 1900 are hard to find and in the U.S. the 1940 census is the last big accounting of where our ancestors were. While my search for ancestors continues, I would like your help to bring together an understanding of the descendants of these families, and to help me assemble a “master family tree” of the families of Santo Stefano. If you would be willing to share some information about your family we can piece this together.

FamilySearch

This free service offers some excellent research tools and the ability to make your own family tree. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides FamilySearch free of charge to everyone. Many know that the church’s family libraries offer many tools for research, but this website is a great place to start. my biggest breakthroughs on the Paolone family came from reviewing microfilms in my local LDS library..